The Rockets are back in camp and preseason is underway, but what makes this season different from the last few years is there are very few new faces. In years past, you might see seven, eight, even ten new names on the 15-man roster. If there are more than three in the 2024-25 season, it will be a surprise.
But because last season was the first one of relevance for a team that was one of the worst in the NBA for the three years prior, many casual fans might not realize there is budding star potential on the Rockets thanks to several years of high draft picks. As we start the season, let’s take a look at the players vying for the title of star among the younger Rockets.
Jalen Green
Green was the first and highest draft pick in this Rockets rebuild, so it makes sense he would top this list. It doesn’t hurt that he has jaw-dropping athleticism and can seemingly score from anywhere. Yet, he has his detractors. The question is how he will transition from the helter-skelter basketball played before coach Ime Udoka arrived and the more focused sets now. Last year, he struggled before finding his footing later in the season. He was second only to Luka Doncic for NBA Western Conference Player of the Month in March. When he is at his best, Green is virtually unstoppable. Whether he can play at that level consistently over an entire season is the question.
Alperen Sengun
Among his biggest fans, Sengun is already a star. His unique play in the paint has led him to become one of the better big men in the post. Stylistically, Sengun is unorthodox and even clumsy looking at times, but he is incredibly effective. To make the leap beyond very good to great will require him putting that breathtaking footwork to good use on the defensive end of the floor. What he lacks in pure athleticism he makes up for with his instincts and persistent energy. He was nearly an All-Star last year. He could be one this year.
Amen Thompson
In whispered tones around basketball, Thompson’s name keeps coming up. A guy who can play literally all five positions on the floor, handle the ball, defend against anyone, he is a fascinating prospect, something he demonstrated after overcoming injuries early last year. But, he remains a consistent jumpshot short of going to the next level. Even with his often stunning play in the paint, his awkward shooting motion leads to defenders backing off him when he is behind the three-point line. He doesn’t have to be Steph Curry, but increasing those numbers could rocket him to the top of this list.
Jabari Smith, Jr.
Out of college, Smith was known for his extraordinary shooting ability as a big man. His athletic build and length also made him a formidable defender, even against smaller players. But, Smith was not someone who could create shots for himself. In the offseason, he admitted he spent most of his time working on his handle. “Not necessarily having a lot of dribble moves and stuff like that,” he explained, “[but] being able to push the ball in transition, being able to make a move.” It will be his ability to take particularly bigger defenders off the dribble that will get him on the radar of NBA fans.
Cam Whitmore
Dynamic, fearless and aggressive are the adjectives often assigned to a guy who slipped all the way to the 20th pick in the draft two years ago. He has already shown his ability to be an offensive dynamo is limited playing time during his rookie season. However, the knock on Whitmore coming out of college was his tendency to bulldog his way to the basket rather than look for open teammates. In a recent funny video the Rockets posted on social media, Dillon Brooks described Whitmore as someone who “shoots…a lot.” Brooks sees a somewhat different Whitmore in camp this year. “[Cam’s] playing a lot of defense, sharing the basketball and he’s been focusing on that all summer.” If Whitmore can maintain that kind of mentality, he is about as good as it gets, particularly on offense.
This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2024.
